Bangalore: India has embarked on a huge scientific exercise of identifying frontier science and cutting edge technology to enhance the country's globalcompetitiveness, according to Dr K Kasturirangan, president, Indian Science Congress Association.

In his presidential address at the inauguration of the 90th Indian Science Congress here on January 3, he said there was an urgent need to revitalise scientific endeavour, as the new Century would witness unprecedented progress in the field of science and technology.

The areas identified for research and development in frontier science were technologies for sustainable energy development, nano sciences and advanced materials, emerging technologies in biosciences and genome research, information science and technologies for knowledge society, food nutrition and environment security, future trends in medicine and immunisation, urban transport management, and climate and weather systems.

Kasturirangan said these areas were identified after consultations and discussions with eminent persons and experts in the respective fields.

"These eminent persons will steer the debate and discussions on these areas and I believe that their recommendations should find a central place in the context of our future programmes in science and technology," he said.

He said while the country had created enormous "latent innovative" capabilities, these needed "transformation into competence of value".

"The moment has come to firmly establish India as a global R&D platform and strengthen symbiotic links between industry and the R&D systems in the country," he said.

He suggested more incentives for private sector R&D and increased public-private partnerships in the future.

PTI